Philippines Organizes Session on Climate Competitiveness in a Changing World at Sidelines of WTO’s Trade and Environment Week 2025

(From left to right) Mr. Vicente Yu, Philippine Trade and Climate Expert, Mr. Joachim Monkelbaan, Senior Fellow of King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Dr. José Roberto Sánchez Fung, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the WTO and UNCTAD, Brian Neil Joseph Glover, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the WTO, and Mr. Alexander Kasterine, Head of Trade and Environment-International Trade Centre.

GENEVA 09 July 2025 — As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines convened a high-level panel session titled “Climate Competitiveness in a Changing World” on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade and Environment Week, held from 30 June to 4 July 2025 at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva.

Co-organized with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and supported by the European Union, the session brought together officials and experts from the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Mauritius to share their experiences in building climate resilience and pursuing sustainable economic growth through trade and investment.  

The session explored how climate-vulnerable developing countries can transform environmental risk into green economic opportunity.  Mr. Vicente Yu, a Philippine expert on trade and climate change, emphasized the need for a coherent, whole-of-government approach that integrates climate resilience with industrial policy, skills development, and sustainable trade. Noting World Bank estimates that climate change could reduce the Philippines’ GDP by up to 7.6% by 2030, he stressed the importance of aligning trade strategies with national development plans, such as the Philippine Development Plan, to secure a climate-competitive future.

The Philippines also drew from its recent ITC study, which found that the global shift toward sustainability presents new export opportunities in environmental goods and services, including semiconductors for renewable energy, critical minerals, and bio-based fuels. With abundant geothermal, solar, and wind resources, the country can further develop its renewable energy sector and leverage trade to build resilience. The report recommends enhancing MSME capacity, aligning with international climate standards, and using trade agreements to support export competitiveness and low-carbon development.  The ITC report is available here: https://www.intracen.org/news-and-events/news/green-trade-is-a-path-to-climate-resilience-for-the-philippines. 

Ambassador José Sanchez Fung of the Permanent Mission of Dominican Republic, in his remarks, highlighted that “we are working to transform these vulnerabilities into climate competitiveness using trade, investment and innovation to drive economic growth and sustainable development.” As a concrete example, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dominican Republic Mr. José Guillermo Sarita Paulino illustrated the country’s innovative solution in maximizing the opportunity of the sargassum seaweed, which is considered to be disruptive to fisheries and tourism, by transforming it into a resource for industrial and agricultural use, such as the development of agricultural bio stimulant made from sargassum called Marine Symbiotic. 

Mauritius, represented by Ambassador Brian Glover, shared insights from its implementation of the EU-funded Climate Competitiveness Project, which aligns with the country’s Circular Economy Action Plan. Mr. Danandjay Luximon, Deputy Director of Trade Policy, highlighted efforts in battery waste management and green investment to support a low-carbon economy.

Moderating the session, Mr. Joachim Monkelbaan of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) concluded by stressing that “climate competitiveness is not a luxury, but a necessity” for achieving sustainable development and ensuring long-term trade viability.

This year marks the sixth edition of the Trade and Environment Week, in which the WTO Members and the Committee on Trade and Environment provide a platform to discuss topics relevant to the trade and environment community.  The recording of all the WTO Trade and Environment Week sessions, as well as presentations, may be accessed at its dedicated page. END

(From left to right) Mr. Danandjay Luximon, Deputy Director for Trade Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius, Mr. Vicente Yu, Consultant of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the WTO, and Mr. José Guillermo Sarita Paulino, Director of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Dominican Republic.

For more information, visit https://wtopm.dfa.gov.ph/.